Quoting my Xiaomi Mi Mix article from 2016, "It is releases like this that make me wish that Xiaomi is still actively marketing its smartphones in the Philippines."

It was quite a statement -- but I can say the exact same thing about its stellar follow-up, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2.

I mean, not only is this fresh release absolutely gorgeous on the outside, it also has a powerhouse set of internal hardware. And the best part: It's not as expensive as other flagship-level models by competing international brands.

The combination of these design elements make the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 one of the - if not THE - best looking handsets released in 2017.

For power-users and heavy-gamers, you'd be glad to know that this device has beastly internal hardware that allow it to run the most specs-intensive 3D games that you can download from the Google Play Store. In fact, it is on par with the most expensive top-of-the-line 2017 Android smartphones in terms of raw power and graphics performance.

If you love to take photos and videos, you'd be glad to know that this model has 12 MegaPixel f/2.0 camera with phase detection autofocus, optical image stabilization and Dual Tone LED flash. It's not a Dual Camera module but I love the fact that it has OIS, which helps deliver clearer shots and smoother 4K videos.

In front, below the display, the phone has a 5 MegaPixel camera. As someone who loves to take selfies, I'd say this is the weakest feature of this model. I mean, they could have placed a higher resolution camera there. But hey, the proof is in the pudding - so they say. I'd love to try this snapper and see if it delivers decent selfies despite its specs.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 is available in a number of variants with different specs and price tags. The most affordable is the aluminum-clad 6GB RAM / 64 ROM version which sells for RMB 3,299 in China or around €420 (Php 25,500) while the most expensive one - that goes for 700 Euros or Php 42,700 - has a whopping 8GB of RAM, 256GB ROM, and an exclusive Ceramic shell. No word yet on this model's availability in the Philippines; Stay tuned for updates!